Is it me or are international breaks nothing other than a mere irritation to us football fans? Thankfully, the Premier League is back this weekend and with a full fixture calendar to look forward to in the EFL, the pressure is back on managers up and down the land.

In a special sack race this week, we take into account the past fortnight and look at one or two international managers that could be set for the chop, or those that have performed well enough on the international stage that a move into, or back into, club management could be in the offing.

MAN IN DEMAND

Panama's coach Hernan Dario Gomez celebrates after his team defeated Costa Rica and qualified for the 2018 World Cup, for the first time ever

Hernan Dario Gomez (Panama)

Panama’s win over Costa Rica sees them qualify for their first ever world Cup final. In fact, a National holiday was announced to celebrate the achievement and coach Hernan Dario Gomez will never have to buy another drink in the world’s 131-most populated country.

Prior to that incredible win, Panama’s best ever football achievement was to finish as runners-up in the 2013 Gold Cup. Now, a national literally cannot wait to get a taste of the main event in Russia this summer.

Panama finished behind Mexico and Costa Rica in the CONCACAF section. Honduras finished fourth, and face a play-off against Australia for the right to qualify for the finals itself.

Panama’s qualification came in controversial fashion; Gabriel Torres deflecting the ball with his arse cheek onto a post and as striker Blas Perez tried to score, it hit his shoulder and rested on the goal line, with a defender yanking at his shirt. The ball didn’t appear to cross the line, but a goal was given, it levelled things up at 1-1 and an 88 minute winner saw them home.

As for Gomez, he is a national hero. Panamanian president Juan Carlos Varela said: "It is a historic day for the country. Tomorrow will be free for the public and private sector workers.

"On a national holiday, also classes are suspended at the country's private and public schools, celebrate family."

Are you listening Theresa May?

ON THE BRINK

Wales head coach Chris Coleman

Chris Coleman (Wales)

Who remembers the video of the wales players dancing around in jubilation when England crashed out of the European Championships last summer? Not so happy now, are you boys?

Yes, it may sound bitter. Yes it may seem petty, but seeing James McLean smash one in and knock the Welsh out of the World Cup on Monday night left me sniggering like that dastardly dog Mutley.

To be fair, Chris Coleman has done a marvellous job in establishing wales and providing the building blocks for a better future by poaching some of England’s brightest young talents and turning them Welsh (Ben Woodburn and Ethan Ampadu incase you’re wondering).

But missing out on the world Cup finals is a bitter, bitter blow. Will Coleman have the energy to go again? Maybe he feels now is the time to return to club management while his stock is still pretty high?

Scotland manager Gordon Strachan

Gordon Strachan (Scotland)

“Don’t Come Home Too Soon,” Del Amitri sung, as they penned the lyrics to the Tartan Army’s World Cup song of 1998. It had barely even charted when a plane headed for Glasgow left France carrying 22 international footballers and a forlorn bunch of SFA executives.

Virtually ever since, the Scots have barely left home, failing to qualify for tournament after tournament despite coming so close on so many occasions.

After Saturday’s inept 2-2 draw with Slovenia, Gordon Strachan claimed it was a genetic issue that Scotland had! Too many Scotland players are too small, he said, and they needed to date “bigger women!”

Small man Strachan is scraping the barrel with that one and if he wasn’t slightly bonkers before, then these comments reaffirm that he most certainly is a little different.

It has been four-and-a-half years for Strachan now and the media north of the border are an unforgiving bunch. To be honest, the only surprise for me was that he didn’t step down in the immediate aftermath of that draw as he lives to fight another day.

Everton manager Ronald Koeman

Ronald Koeman (Everton)

This weekend is looking bigger and bigger for Ronald Koeman and his Everton team bereft of idea and attacking intent, according to the Dutchman himself.

The alarm bells have been ringing throughout the summer break at Goodison and with a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion looming, the pressure is very much on Koeman to get a result.

His recent comments smack of a man that is fast losing the dressing room with no blame attached to himself. It’s everyone else’s fault, it seems, a sure-fire way of getting the sack, unless things improve, if ever there was one.

Koeman did well during his time in charge of Southampton, but it seems that, without Romalu Lukaku, the Toffees are nothing. Without their blameless Dutchman, could they be even better?

ON THE BRINK

USA coach Bruce Arena

Bruce Arena (USA)

The Americans failed to qualify for an eighth successive World Cup Finals as they were shocked by Trinidad & Tobago. That result, coupled with Panama’s win over Costa Rica, meant that there will be no Russian fancy for the Americans this summer.

An inquest is sure to be held. Despite ‘soccer’ being on the rise State-side, this is a huge blow – and you have to feel for the TV station Fox, who parted with a whopping $200 million for the world Cup broadcasting rights. How ESPN, their main rivals, must be laughing now.

But what about Bruce? Having originally taken charge of the national side in 1998, he led them to finals in 2002 and 2006. He then spent time in charge at New York Red Bulls and LA Galaxy before returning to the international scene in November 2016.

Despite an indifferent qualifying campaign, America, 28 in the rankings, still looked set for the plane to Russia. But in Tuesday’s final qualifying game, an Omar Gonzalez own goal contributed towards their downfall to the 99-ranked Soca Warriors.